The Irish held Kent to 29 percent field goal shooting and forced 34 turnovers in limiting the Golden Flashes to its lowest offensive output in 13 seasons. Notre Dame also set a Preseason WNIT record for fewest points allowed.

Kent's Ashley Bland hit the first basket of the game, 20 seconds into the contest, giving the Golden Flashes their only lead of the game. Notre Dame then went on a 20-0 scoring run over the next nine and a half minutes before Carrie Templin converted an offensive rebound for a basket at the 9:54 mark for Kent.

Kent cut the lead to six points at 22-14, but the Irish ended the first half with an 8-4 run to open up a 30-18 halftime lead.

The Irish scored the first six points of the second half and Kent got no closer than 12 points the rest of the way. Notre Dame continued to shut down the Golden Flashes offense in the second half as Kent connected on 6-of-24 attempts from the field in the second half.

Kent's 41 points represented the Golden Flashes lowest offensive output since a 79-37 setback against West Virginia in the 1983-84 campaign.

Notre Dame will now play the winner of the Iowa-Illinois State game on Sunday with the date and site to be determined after first round play is complete.